MoreThanFine wrote:Just while your on the subject of the cable ties on the legs thing....forgive my newbie question but....why do you put them on?

I'd just be using them for ID purposes... I only have shavers and the ones I currently have all look the same! When we got them, we named them all, but now have no idea which one is who

CountryGirl, with cable ties wouldn't you have to cut them off? I bought some that clip together but at the time the chooks were too flighty for me to catch them, and I was also worried that once they were on I wouldn't be able to get them off as they grew. I've seen the spiral ones, and they look quite good but can't see how they'd go on.

"Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.” - Frank Lloyd Wright

nzkings wrote:CountryGirl, with cable ties wouldn't you have to cut them off? I bought some that clip together but at the time the chooks were too flighty for me to catch them, and I was also worried that once they were on I wouldn't be able to get them off as they grew. I've seen the spiral ones, and they look quite good but can't see how they'd go on.

Yes with the cable ties, once they are on they are on for good unless you cut them, but with them being so cheap and versatile, they are by far the easiest method of leg banding! As they grow I just keep cutting old ones and adding new bands to make sure they don't get too tight. And if on the odd chance you forget to cut one off in time, the cable ties are small and thin so not much effort to try and remove still.

I've used the clip ones and HATE them. They are a bit of a struggle to put on and even more so to take off. My neighbours had them on their chooks, and they all got scaley leg at one stage - making the rings so tight the scales pushed all the way around and it was raw underneath. Trying to get them off was a nightmare as there was no room to try and slide/clip it open, and too hard to cut. The poor chooks, finally got them off but it looked pretty painful for them. And the spirals just take a little while to open and twist on, like putting a key on a key chain.

CountryGirlNZ wrote:Hello! Well I breed them and love working on traits and improving their breeding. Mine have nice deep-bodies, lay amazingly (currently the only birds of mine laying through winter), have the correct colouration, legs, and nice faces. They are extremely placid too. I've just sold off all my spare cockerels, but I could always send you some eggs later on in the year?